Dalrail,
The gap between the rail and the first sleeper is to allow a rail joiner to slide properly onto the rail - the section of rail between the end and the first tie is less than 1/2 a railjoiner long, and wouldn't allow a proper mechanical connection if the sleeper didn't have the gap.
Cheers,
tbdanny
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Welcome to the forums.
Not sure about the rail joiners, but I would think regular Peco rail joiners should work. Have never heard of special ones for turnout.
"Tag" is a way of finding threads on a certain subject such as trees, ballast, turnouts. Unfortunately it doesn't seem they are used as much as they should be. I am as guilty of this as anyone. Scroll down the righthand column and you will find a box "Popular Tags," where it lists all the tags that folks have used. That's my understanding of them.
Have fun,
Richard
Thanks for your input on rail bed material. I found a roll of 1/8' x36' wide cork and I am cutting strips out of this. I have a PECO Streamline code 83 turnout, SL 8362. There is a space between the rail and the first sleeper, but the rail spikes are not removed. Does this turnout must need a special rail joiner? By the way what is the purpose of the "tag" at the bottom of this message block?